Bulls reportedly the favorite to sign Lonzo Ball

The New Orleans Pelicans are not expected to bring back restricted free agent Lonzo Ball, and it appears a clear favorite to sign the point guard has emerged.

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports said during NBA TV’s free-agency special on Saturday that the Chicago Bulls are expected to sign Ball. Haynes added that Ball will land elsewhere only if there is a major “hiccup,” according to Mark Schanowski of ABC-7 in Chicago.

That meshes with what Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer was told this week, which is that there is mutual interest between Ball and the Bulls on a four-year deal worth around $80 million.

Ball averaged 14.6 points, 5.7 assists and 4.8 rebounds per game with the Pelicans this season. He is not a player executive David Griffin drafted, which is one reason it has been widely assumed that New Orleans will move on from him.